Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder during a miserable week for NFL players and pro athletes in general. Photo: REUTERS

In a prospective trade to de-emphasize Amar’e Stoudemire’s importance, the Knicks are attempting to finalize a deal today to bring aboard Raptors big man Andrea Bargnani, according to two sources.

With free agency beginning at midnight last night, the Knicks’ biggest splash could be the 6-foot-11 Bargnani’s arrival in a trade with Toronto, which would receive Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, a future first-round pick and next year’s second-rounder.

The teams needed to finish the deal last night for salary-cap reasons because the contract figures change today, which would throw off the math. That didn’t happen, but both sides are very motivated to make it work and plan on making revisions, sources told The Post.

The Knicks can add one of their free agents, such as Kenyon Martin, in a sign-and-trade, but the deal wouldn’t become official until July 10.

The Knicks have worked on this deal for several weeks and it was not a reaction to the Nets adding Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. The Raptors have shopped Bargnani due to his reputation as a soft big man who was injury prone.

The Italian center/power forward became persona non grata in Toronto the past two seasons, failing to live up to his potential as a No. 1 overall pick in 2006. But he is a deft perimeter shooter and the Knicks are looking to upgrade their offense, which failed them in their playoff loss to the Pacers. They also are leery of putting too many eggs in Stoudemire’s basket and want to avoid leaning on him for a full season.

The Knicks conceivably can start Bargnani at power forward and move Carmelo Anthony back to small forward, but they would prefer to start Anthony at the four.

Because they were willing to absorb the final two years and $22.25 million of Bargnani’s contract, along with a 1.5 percent trade kicker, the Knicks weren’t asked to give up a big asset. They would part with two players with undesirable contracts in Novak and Camby. The Knicks don’t have a 2014 first-rounder, so they are not permitted to trade a pick until 2016.

The Post reported yesterday the Knicks were shopping Novak, who was not in the mix in the Pacers series after they signed him to a four-year, $16 million pact last summer. Camby had a disastrous season because of plantar fasciitis, played just 23 games and would return to the team that drafted him. Camby will be paid $3.1 million this season, but only $1.9 million of his final year of $4.3 million is guaranteed.

Camby was hoping the deal fell through so he could remain a Knick.

“He wants to stay in New York and prove last year he should’ve played,’’ his agent, Rick Kaplan, said. “He chose New York and wants to stay.’’

Bargnani has been regularly booed in Toronto the past two years because he is a one-dimensional, outside-shooting big man. He was drafted by former Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo, who just stepped down.

Bargnani has averaged 15.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in seven NBA seasons but averaged just 12.7 points on 39-percent shooting in just 35 games last season in an injury-wracked campaign.

The Knicks have realized their impact in free agency won’t be big and their best avenue was through a trade. Knicks GM Glen Grunwald made a lot of good moves last summer but signing Camby went astray. Camby got healthy in time for the playoffs but was not used by coach Mike Woodson.

“He was ready and thought he could have made a difference,’’ Kaplan said.

* Add Aaron Brooks to the Knicks point-guard wish list as free agency opened. The 6-foot Brooks was waived by the Rockets yesterday to clear cap space for a run at Dwight Howard. Brooks believes he could be a “good fit’’ with the Knicks, according to a person who spoke to him.

With Bargnani coming aboard, the Knicks can focus their $3.1 million mini mid-level exception on a point guard instead of a big. They want to sign at least one point guard in July — two if they can’t bring back free agent Pablo Prigioni. Brooks, whose aggregate salary last season was $5.6 million, could be had for a portion of the mini mid-level that can be split. Will Bynum, C.J. Watson and Devin Harris are also targets. Brooks is represented by CAA agent Leon Rose, whose clients include Anthony and J.R. Smith.